The purpose of this summary provided by the Communications Department of The Florida Bar is to present media coverage that may be of interest to members. Opinions expressed in the articles are attributable solely to the authors. The Florida Bar does not adopt or endorse any opinions expressed below. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
December 04, 2024
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The Florida Bar
FLORIDA RANKS AMONG TOP STATES FOR LAWYER POPULATION GROWTH
The Florida Bar | Article | December 04, 2024
Florida has the fastest growing lawyer population, with the number of active, resident lawyers increasing 17% in the past decade. This figure from the American Bar Institute’s 2023-2026 National Lawyer Population Survey was included in the ABA’s 2024 Profile of the Legal Profession, released in November. According to the survey, there are more than 1.3 million lawyers nationwide. Florida, with just over 80,000 active, resident attorneys, according to the ABA, ranks fourth among states in lawyer population after New York, California, and Texas. In all, The Florida Bar boasts slightly more than 113,000 lawyers with 15% residing out of state. And when it comes to demand for attorneys, Florida ranks twice in the top four metropolitan areas in the nation with Tallahassee coming in second and Miami third behind first-place Washington, D.C., and ahead of New York.
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Judicial Discipline
JUDGE ACKNOWLEDGED HIS ‘PROFANE OUTBURST’ SHOCKED HIMSELF, FLORIDA COURT SAYS IN IMPOSING SUSPENSION
ABA Journal | Article | December 03, 2024
In a Nov. 27 court order, the Florida Supreme Court suspended Judge Wayne Culver of Seminole County, Florida, for 60 days without pay and publicly reprimanded him for his “intemperate conduct” in two Feb. 2022 court proceedings. During his disciplinary hearing, Culver admitted shocking himself by the use of profanity, according to findings by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission cited by the Florida Supreme Court. Culver was experiencing “intense personal pressure and loss” at the time because he was caring for his dying father. The Florida Supreme Court said it agreed with the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission’s conclusion that Culver violated ethics rules requiring judges to conduct themselves with integrity; to be patient, dignified and courteous; and to maintain professional competence. Witnesses at the disciplinary hearing said they had not seen Culver engage in the same type of behavior before or since.
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Civil Justice
FEDERAL JUDGE TO TAKE UP ISSUE INVOLVING SOCIAL MEDIA RESTRICTIONS FOR MINORS
WFSU | Article | December 03, 2024
Starting January 1, kids 13 and under will no longer be able to have a profile on certain social media sites. This includes Snapchat, TikTok, and Discord. Florida legislators call these apps “addictive” and say they are harmful to younger users. NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), whose members include tech giants such as Google and Meta Platforms, filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit in October challenging the social media ban. The agencies have worked out a deal with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to hold off on enforcing the social media ban against platforms they represent until the U.S. District Court takes up the issue. A preliminary hearing is set for February 28. Tallahassee-based Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker will preside over the hearing. A jury trial is scheduled for November 2025.
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Civil Justice
SEMINOLE CLERK MAY SUE HIS OWN COUNTY OVER CRIMINAL DATA SYSTEM
Orlando Sentinel | Article | December 03, 2024
Grant Maloy, Seminole’s clerk of court and comptroller, is threatening to sue the county over nearly a million dollars he says his office is owed for the cost of maintaining criminal records and data. Maloy recently sent a letter to Seminole County commissioners asking they meet to resolve their years-long legal spat — rather than going to court — over whether Seminole should fork over an estimated $960,000 a year in taxpayer money to help fund the Criminal Justice Information System (or CJIS). That system provides court records and statistics to the state attorney’s office, public defenders, judges, law enforcement and court staff. Lacking the county funds, Maloy says he is forced to prop up Seminole’s contribution to the system with fees charged to the public for unrelated court services. It all came to a boil Nov. 12 when commissioners refused to negotiate with Maloy over the issue.
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Civil Justice
FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL REMINDS SHOPPERS TO BE WARY OF HOLIDAY SCAMS
WUFT | Article | December 03, 2024
With shopping increasing as the holidays approach, Attorney General Ashley Moody is reminding consumers to be mindful of online scams. According to the state of Florida, consumers spent over $12 billion on Cyber Monday last year, making this one of the most popular online shopping days of the year. “Know that if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Keep antivirus software up to date. Only buy from reputable online retailers. And use credit cards while shopping online, as they often offer additional consumer protection,” Moody said. Moody also says not to use public Wi-Fi when putting in credit card information. Floridians are encouraged to visit MyFloridaLegal.com for additional consumer tips.